Headlight-shifting mechanism.



L. OAMBERSON. HEADLIGHT SHIPPING MECHANISMQ 4 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, IsIb'.Qy

9811,3509 'Patented Jan.10, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. a I Iv M In I ,Zia SSES INVENTOR lfiflirzerawa 1 M L. O. AMBERSON. HEADLIGHT snmme MECHANISM.

AEPLIOATIOH FILED JUNE 18,1910. I

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

KNVENTQR 16 16 Zfifl 7, WWW JZ w 1y I} a fUNlLTED STATES PATENT mm HEADLIGHT-SHIFTIN G MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 10, 1911.

Application filed June 18, 1910. Serial N6. 567,614.

To all who r); it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINTON C. AMBERsoN,

a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Newv Castle, in the'county of o Lawrence and State of Pennsytvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I'Ieadlight-Shifting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. i L

This invention relates to head light shift-- ing mechanism fo'rmotors'and other vehicles and has for its object to provide a mechanism in a manner as hereinafter set forth for automatically shifting a headlight from the frontwheelsof a vehicle during the steering of the wheels.

Further 'objects of the invention are to provide a" headlight shifting mechanism which shall be comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, efiicient in its use, readily connected to a'motor or other vehicle, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture;

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and'illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the: invention but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: F igure='=l is a side elevation of a portion of a motor showingthe adaptation therewith of a headlight shifting mechanism in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of a motor showing the adaptation therewith of a headlight shifting mechanism in accordance with this invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the headlight shifting mechanism. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the operating element carried by one of the front wheels of the vehicle for actuating the shifting mechanism during the steering of the wheel. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the yieldable supporting posts of the mechanism. Fig. 6 is'a transverse sectional View of the operating element. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the swivel support for the actuating memher, and, Figs. 8,9 and '10 are detail views of a modified form'of actuating member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 dencLe-s the front beam of the frame of a motor vehicle and which has connected thereto as at. l a pair of forwardly projecting T- shaped hrackets. The head of each of the brackets indicated by the reference character 2 and the arm by the reference char: actor 2. Each of the heads 2 is provided with a plurality of openings '2" through which extend hold-fast devices 2 for securing the brackets to the beam 1. The T- shaped brackets constitute suspension means for adjustable pivoted supports for the headlights. Each of said supports consists of a pair of angle-shaped members 3, 3 ad-- justably connected ,together'bya pin and slot connection 3*. The lower arm of the member 3 is mounted upon the arm of the member 3 and the saidlower arms are adjustably connected together by the pin and slot connection 3 whereby the saidmembers 3, 3 can be movedtoward and away from each other when occasion 'so requires. The

has fixed thereto a cylindrical exarm 0 tension 3 which is looselymonnted ina cup 3 formed on the free end of the arm 2. The extension 3 is capable of being'shifted within the cup 3 so as to angularly dispose the members 3, 3 with rspect to the arm,

2* or to return said members to normal'position which is as shown in Fig. 3. Fixed to I the extension 3 is a forwardly-extending offset arm 5. v v

The headlights are indicated by the-reference character 4 and each has connected thereto as at ,4? the members. 3, 3 The members -3, 3* constitute supports for the headlights and further shift the headlights when the extensions 3 are moved within the cup 33. The extensions 3- are shifted through the medium of the arms 5. l

The reference character'7 denotes a horizontally-disposed bar arranged forwardly of the beam' 1 and which is provided with a pair of apertured brackets 6 Extending between the brackets 6* and the bar are the I outer ends of the arms 5 and the said outerends are pivotally connected to the brackets 6 and bar 7 by the pin 6 The bar 6 isv capable of shiftingtransversely with respect to the vehicle and when sh ift ed'will move the arms 5 whereby the extensions 3 arev moved within the cups 3 and the members A n 3, 3* shrtted to or from normal. posltion and carryithefheadlights "therewith. The bar 7 hasoneof its ends connected to a vertically.

extending post'8 which projects through a T-coupling 9- and the said post 8; is provided near itstop with a collar 13 and near its a bottompvvithfial. collar 13%; vlnterposcd between the collar I3 and the coupling?) is a coilspring 12 and interposed betweentheI- vehicle .20

12?", "The springs 12' and 1'2"- surroun gpo'st' 8; and constitute means whereby the" "That. an er the rod il which ap cQupling'Q -and. the collar 13? is ai'coil s riiig the formed witha ball race 16 in which engages the bearing balls 16 The boss 16 centrally.- "of its lower face is formed with a depend-o ing stem 1S h'avingits lowerend threaded as at18 and provided with clamping nuts 18?. Mounted'upon the-stem 18 and inter posed between the nutsIS and the bearing ball-s 16is'a headl t of a.segment -shaped .actuatin'g'.member. The upper .face of the head 14 of the-actuating member is provided w th ajig roove 161. constituting a, ball race .in'which entends the'ball 16. By'theforegoing arrangement the actuating member is .swivelly supported in position. Theyactuatg ing 'member. not only includes .the h ta I1 1 hut-also a pair of ooved arms 14* which are" formed integra With 'an'd project; from the head 14 as'w'ell .a'sextend in opposite directions with respect .to each otherfland each of said arms 14! is formed with a reotangular 'endl l Connectedto one of the of the reach" arms 14: as at 11 is one end rod 11. '--Theactuating me'niber is -inter-.

posed between the side of" the vehicle and one of the front wheels 21'. The said wheel 217 has secured to the inner sidethereof an operating element in the form of an annulus QOand which is provided with the inwardly-extending apertured lugs 23.

tending around the-spokes of the wheel 21 and throughthe'aperture'd lugs 23 are the clevises 22 for'coupli'ng the annulus 20 to the wheel 21,. The annulus 20 is; mounted in operative. relation with respect tothe ac'-.

tuating member so-that when thewheel 21 is shifted either; one of the rectangular ends 14, willbe engaged hy the annulus 20 Whereby the actuating member will be shifted and,

the bar'Will-be, moved Which-intu'rnwillshift the arms 5' and move the members 3? thereby shifting the headlights.

From the foregoing construction and ar- 1 in position rangementof parts it is,evident .that when the lront Wheels of the vehicle are steered,

with one of the rectangular end-s 1 1 o'f t'he arm 14. i

.1 In theniodilied forni shown "in F ip's. 8

and 9 the actuating member is formed 'ot two separate arms. 202120", each provided with a rectang'iilarend 20 and' the said arms- 20,

20* are-pivotally mounted upon th'estem 20 which dependsfr omj-the'bearing 21" support-fed upon jtheipin" 18; The pivoted ends of the arms 20"."and 20 are provided with legs 21 for li'mitingvthe movement of said 'arms. The -a1 'm"s.20 and QO Jare connected together by a spring 21% The. reach rod which-1s indicated by-the'referencc character 22 isconnected 'to'the arm 20. By forming the actuating member of apa-ir of armsconnected" together by a spring any injury -from asudden"turning-movement of the wheel 21 t0 the actuating member will be prevented.

Nhat I claim istf 1-. A headlightshifting mechanism comprising antangularlyshit'table headlight 111)- por't including ashiftin'g arm therefor, a yieldingly supported-bar pivotallv connected to said arm and movable inthe direction of its length for shifting said arm thereby adj-usting' said support, an actuating member,

means for swivelly supporting'the said 1mm her from a vehicle,connections between said har'a'n'd said member for'movlng the bar when said memberfisi actuated, and an operating'elem'ent carried-by one of the 'frontwheels o'fla vehicle and adapted to engage said member for z'a'ctuatnf it, during the steering of'the frontwhe 's of the vehicle whereby the headlight support is shifted. v

2; A headlight ,"shifting mechanism com- 7 prisingan angularly'shiftable headlight support includinga pair of, arms, a'y'ieldingly supported bar pivotally' connected to said the; headlightshvill be automatically shifted owlng to tl'iefengagemcnt of the annulus arms-jand'mov'able in the direction of its length for shifting said arms thereby adjusting'said support, an actuating member including a pair of arms each'having an enlarged rectangular .free end; means .for swivelly, supporting I 831d member from a vehicle, connectionstet-ween said bar and said member for moving.'the bar when said member is actuated and an operating ele- 1 "ment carried .by one of the frontwheels at a vehicle and adapted to engage the end-0f;

one of the arms of said member for actuating it during the steering of the front Wheels of the vehicle whereby the headlight support is shifted. I

port including apairlof supporting members adapted'to be connected to a headlight and adjustable witlrrespect to each other and 3. Ajheadlight mechanism 00111 prising an angularly shittable headlight sup-c further including a shiftable arm therefor,

'11 yieldingly supported bar pivotally connected to said'arm' and movable in the direction of its length for-shifting said armthere by adjusting said' .s11pport,' pivotallymounted actuating niembeiyconnections between said bar and saidmember for moving vthe bar when said member is actuated,-and an Operating element carried by one of the front wheels of a vehicle and adapted to engage said member for actuating it during the steeringof the front Wheels. of the vehicle whereby the headlight support is shifted.

4. A headlightshifting.mechanism comprising an. angularly shiftable headlight support including a pair of supporting members adapted toibe connected to azheadlight and adjustable with respect to each' other and further including a shiftable'arm therefor,

a yieldingly supported bar pivotally con-.

nected to said arms and movable. in the direction of its length for shifting said arms thereby adjusting saidjsup'p'ort, a pivotally mounted actuating member, connections be tween said bar and said member for moving the bar .wl' ien' said member is actuated,

and. an operating elementcarried by one of theiront wheels of a'vehicle and adapted toengage'said member for actuating it during the steering ofv the front wheels of the vehicle whereby the headlight support is shifted.

. headlight shifting mechanism com prising apair-of-ari'gularly shiftable headlight supports each including a shifting arm therefor, a -.yieldingly supported. bar.. pi'votally connected to said arms and movable-inlength for shifting said" arm thereby adjusting said support, a pivot-1.

the direction of its ;ally-1'nounted actuating member connections between said 'banan'd saidmemb vthe bar when said memberis'factuatedj elementcarried by one of and an. operating the. front wheels of-fa-wiehicle and adapted to engage 'said. member "for actuating it dur-' ing the steering of the front1wheels of the vehicle whereby the -h adlight support is shifted.

6. A headlight shifting mechanism com-- prising a pair of angularly-shiftable h'ead-' light supports'e'ach ihcludi nga shifting arm therefor, a yieldingly supportedhan pivotand-g-mova'ble inthe direction of its length forfish-ifting said arms thereby adjusting said suppoi'hva pivotally connected to said arms ally-mounted actuating member, connections between said barfandsaid memberfor moving the bar when saidjmem'ber'isactuated, and an operating" element'carriedbyone of the front lieels l*of a'vehicle and adapted to engage said member for actuating it dur-' ing the steering of vthe front .vsthe'els of the the headlight support is 

